Building site extortion rackets are rife in cities across Ireland and not confined to Dublin, a TD has claimed.
Fianna Fail’s Niall Collins said the multi-million euro “regeneration” of Limerick’s local authority housing estates has been targeted by gangs.
He was speaking after a scandal involving Dublin City Council where gangsters received more than €500,000 to provide protection for three construction firms.
Deputy Collins added sources in Limerick City and County Council and the construction industry informed him the “racketeering operation” has been going on “for years”.
Mr Collins has asked Garda management to investigate the extent of the alleged cash for protection operations.
Chief Supt Gerry Roche said gardai are aware of individuals suspected to be involved and are liaising with the Limerick Council on weeding it out.
Mr Collins said: “I’ve been talking to people involved in the construction industry and they’re telling me this is happening, it’s well-known and it includes the regeneration sites.
“The claims from the construction sources have been backed up by sources in the Council.”
A source close to Limerick City and County Council said “two families involved in the [Limerick gangland] feud” have been fleecing contractors and sub-contracting firms “for well over a decade”, some of whom have been operating projects funded by the State.
Mr Collins added: “It’s going on for years. There was one family that were at it for a long time and there are two families involved in the feud involved.
“They are paying for their own security and then they are giving local individuals around €600 in cash, a week, per individual, and there are a number of individuals involved.”
Chief Supt Roche said gardai are aware of extortion racket reports.
He added: “There are a number of people we suspected who would have been involved.”
Last week it emerged mobsters Derek “Dee Dee” O’Driscoll, 46, and 36-year-old David Reilly were paid more than €500,000 to provide security for three building firms in West Dublin.
